Asbestos and Mesothelioma Resources

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused exclusively by asbestos exposure. Thousands of American workers were exposed to asbestos for decades at power plants, refineries, shipyards, schools, and industrial facilities — often without any warning. This resource page provides authoritative information on diagnosis, legal rights, and next steps.

Understanding Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the mesothelium — the protective lining around the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The disease has a latency period of 20 to 70 years from first exposure to diagnosis, which means workers exposed to asbestos in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are only now developing the disease.

Key facts:

  • Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year
  • The disease is caused solely by asbestos fiber inhalation or ingestion
  • Missouri and Illinois have high historical incidence rates due to heavy industrial activity

Who Was Exposed

Common exposure occupations include insulators, pipefitters and plumbers, boilermakers, electricians, millwrights, construction workers, railroad workers, and veterans. Missouri and Illinois industrial sites — Ameren power plants, Wood River refinery, St. Louis steel mills, and major railroad facilities — employed thousands of workers in asbestos-heavy environments through the 1980s.

Critical: Missouri HB68

House Bill 68 cuts Missouri’s asbestos statute of limitations from 5 years to 2 years, effective April 2025. If you or a family member was diagnosed with mesothelioma, the clock is running now.

Primary Resource Site

For in-depth Missouri-specific information:

AsbestosMissouri.com — Authoritative coverage of mesothelioma law, trust fund claims, and legal rights for asbestos survivors and families in Missouri.

Contact

Questions about asbestos resources: mesowatchhelp@gmail.com